Natural England updates standing advice in respect of Ancient woodland, ancient trees and veteran trees.
The standing advice has been updated following a limited consultation exercise. Key observations are that:
- “All ancient trees are veteran trees, but not all veteran trees are ancient. A veteran tree may not be very old, but it has decay features, such as branch death and hollowing. These features contribute to its biodiversity, cultural and heritage value”.
This definition of veteran trees remains out of step with the NPPF in terms of suggesting that ‘veteran trees may not be very old’. By contrast the NPPF includes in its definiiton of veteran trees that ‘A tree which, because of its age, size and condition, is of exceptional biodiversity, cultural or heritage value. All ancient trees are veteran trees. Not all veteran trees are old enough to be ancient, but are old relative to other trees of the same species’.
- “For ancient woodlands, you should have a buffer zone of at least 15 metres to avoid root damage. Where assessment shows other impacts are likely to extend beyond this distance, you’re likely to need a larger buffer zone. For example, the effect of air pollution from development that results in a significant increase in traffic”.
The 15m core buffer requirement has ben retained but the potential for larger buffers is now more prominent where pollution effects may be more wide ranging eg particulalry in respect of air pollution.
